In this mandala of Chandra, the personification of the moon, there is no palace to accommodate the deities, as is typical of other mandalas. The main deity sits on an elaborate chariot with a complex arch framing his head. The mandala is placed against a uniform black background with the corner depictions evenly distributed. Stylistically the Buddhist paintings of Nepal and Tibet are closely related, but there are some features that are characteristically Nepalese. Most characteristic is the expansive depiction of ritual action and veneration in the bottom of the painting and the use of alternating background colors. This mandala is centered on Chandra, the white moon god, who holds the stalks of two white lotuses. He is flanked by his two consorts, and the charioteer Ambara sits directly in front of him controlling the seven white ganders pulling his chariot. The inner circle also houses depictions of the eight planets. The sixteen deities in the second circle all mirror Chandra in iconography and likely represent the phases of the moon. The outer circle houses a group of twenty-eight constellations (nakshatra) that correspond to a group of goddesses. In the corners around the mandala are the signs of the zodiac and two narrative scenes in which animals seem to offer food to human figures.

Artwork Details

Title
Mandala of Chandra
Dimensions
21 1/2 × 19 3/4 in. (estimated)
Medium
Pigments on cloth
Origin
Nepal
Classification(s)
paintings
Date
ca.1500
Credit Line
Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, Gift of Shelley and Donald Rubin
Object number
C2010.23
HAR Number
100016
Published references
* Vajracarya, Gautamavajra. Nepalese Seasons: Rain and Ritual. New York: Rubin Museum of Art, 2016. Fig. 13: pp. 23-24

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Ritual

Concepts

Prescribed practices that carry symbolic meaning and value within a specific tradition and are intended to attain a desired outcome. Rituals are usually done as part of a ceremony or regular routine.

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Tantrism

Concepts

A religious movement that originated in India around the fifth to seventh century with sacred writings and esoteric teachings and practices transmitted from teacher to student through initiation. These remain an important part of Hinduism and Buddhism today. 

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Devotion

Concepts

A virtuous feeling and deep respect toward an authentic teaching, teacher, or path. Buddhists believe that expansive study, analysis, and meditation are essential steps for cultivating a healthy and enduring devotion.

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Mandala

Figure Type

A geometrically shaped tool used for meditation and visualization in Buddhist practice. It is a representation of the palace of a deity and the Buddhist conception of the cosmos.

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Nepalese Regions

Region

The Himalayan kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley were significant centers of Buddhist culture. Nepalese kings, Buddhist institutions, and ordinary people patronized the vibrant art guilds. The artistic traditions of the regions are well-known in Tibetan areas and beyond, and Newar artists have always been in high demand throughout Tibetan regions and Inner Asia.

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